Fonds GB 0210 GREESS - Gregynog Press Records,

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 GREESS

Title

Gregynog Press Records,

Date(s)

  • 1922-1963 / (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

0.486 cubic metres (15 boxes, 12 volumes, 1 folder)

Context area

Name of creator

Administrative history

The Gregynog Press/Gwasg Gregynog Management Committee was established at the Council meeting of November 1973 to oversee the re-establishment and subsequent management of the press at Gregynog, Montgomeryshire, (following its demise in 1963), and the publishing of R.S. Thomas' Laboratories of the Spirit, printed by the University's Printing Fellow. It included representatives of the Press Board and of the Gregynog Committee. The Press is one of the leading publishers of traditionally made fine books in the UK providing design, typesetting, printing and binding services for individuals and national institutions.

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Gregynog Press was established by Margaret and Gwendoline Davies, of Gregynog Hall, Montgomeryshire, in 1922. The private press produced forty-five titles between 1923 and 1941. Many were in Welsh, or had Welsh connections, including The life of Saint David, Selected poems of Edward Thomas and Gweledigaetheu y Bardd Cwsc. The Press also produced other material, including Christmas cards, programmes and prospectuses. Dr Thomas Jones was the first editor for the Press. Horace Bray was employed as resident artist, and Robert Maynard was the original controller of the Press until 1930; between 1936-1940, James Wardrop was the controller. During the Second World War, the Gregynog Press ceased production, and although the house was still used for conferences and festivals, it did not resume printing. It ceased as a business in 1963. In 1960 Gregynog Hall was sold to the University of Wales.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited 1963, apart from items formerly in the collection of James Wardrop, purchased in 1990 and 1991. Further papers were transferred in 1995, source unknown and from the British Library per the Curator of Musical Manuscripts, 2002.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Gregynog Press, 1902-1963, mainly 1922-1940, including accounts, 1922-1963; correspondence, 1924-1954; documents relating to published works, 1923-1940; documents relating to books printed for private circulation, 1929-1938, documents relating to unpublished works, 1932-1936; ephemera, 1927-1962; prospectuses and catalogues of printing firms, exhibitions, booksellers, 1926-1940; miscellaneous papers, 1917-1954, and photographs, 1902-1924; and draft designs and illustrations, [c. 1930s].

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Action: All records purchased by and deposited at the National Library of Wales have been retained..

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged into the following: accounts and business records; correspondence; published volumes; books printed for private circulation; projected but unpublished books; ephemera; draft designs and illustrations; prospectuses and catalogues; miscellaneous papers.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

English, Welsh.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The NLW holds other archives relating to the history of the Gregynog Press, most notably twelve volumes of correspondence in the papers of Dr Thomas Jones CH (Class L, vols. 1-12: see the typescript Guide and Index to the papers, pp. 390-426); and the Gregynog Press Visitors' Book, 1923-1944 (now NLW MS 18465E). Four letters, 1959-c. 1975, relating to the press may be found in NLW MS 21818. Correspondence relating to the publication of specific books may be found in Papurau T. Gwynn Jones (G1600, G2906, G2697-703, G3935-50, G6560), and Papurau W. J. Gruffydd, file 132. Copies of all books published by the Gregynog Press between 1923 and 1940 are held in the Department of Printed Books, together with a collection of the printed ephemera: annotated lists of both are available in that Department. Another group of the ephemera may be found in the UCW Music Department Archives (item 73), helt at the NLW.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Harrop, Dorothy A., A History of the Gregynog Press (Pinner, 1980).

Notes area

Note

Title supplied from contents of fonds

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls003844190

Project identifier

ANW

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Rules and/or conventions used

Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

February 2003

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedules of the Gregynog Press archives, vols. 1 and 2; Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001), Harrop, Dorothy, A., A History of the Gregynog Press (Pinner, 1980).

Accession area

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places

Physical storage

  • Text: Gregynog Press Records.